A major tributary of the St. Johns River, the 13-mile long creek – split into the North Prong and South Prong that merge in Middleburg – meanders through Clay County ordinarily at a tranquil pace, enticing fishermen, kayakers, canoeists and other boaters, as well as those simply seeking serenity by sitting on a dock and watching the abundant wildlife drawn to the creek.

Irma’s fury spawned flood waters that topped out at 28.5 feet on both the North and South prongs Sept. 12 — easily eclipsing the previous 24.3-foot record set 94 years ago.

Homes perched on high ground, historically safe from flooding, were cut off at best. At worst, they were submerged to their roof lines. Among hard hit areas in Middleburg were Black Creek, Begonia and Sandy Run drives on the South Prong, and Wisteria Lane, Scenic Drive and Yvonne Terrace on the North Prong.

Named for its water color, which results from tannin produced by decaying vegetation and leaves, Black Creek is reddish in shallow areas, while the deeper water appears black. It’s long been considered one of Florida’s cleanest creeks.

Self-described "creek people," the residents buoyed by faith, family and a community where neighbors and strangers alike rallied to help in the wake of catastrophe, are on the rebound. But just as it scarred the land, so, too, the hurricane left its mark on those living on the creek banks.

Red Mattox, his two brothers and their sister said more than a few prayers as they rushed to evacuate their elderly parents to safety when fast-rising, roiling flood waters poured from South Prong Black Creek across their backyard into the modest house they’ve called home for 25 years.

Black Creek had always been a place of solace and contentment for Glenn Sr., 88, and Alta Mattox, 81, until Hurricane Irma.

LIVES PUT ON HOLD

"The hardest part has been watching Mama and Daddy, in their 80s, having to put their life on hold. Waiting impatiently for their house to be repaired so they can move back in. Going on three months now, it’s probably going to be two months more at least before they can go home," Red Mattox said.

The water was nearly knee deep and rising inside the Black Creek Drive home when his parents, a 71-year-old aunt with special needs, and his brother, Mark, who lived with and took care of them, began evacuating, he said.

He said the flood water was waist deep as they were evacuated by neighbor in his father’s boat and then by a Coast Guard crew from Kentucky deployed to do search and rescue in Clay County.

Married 64 years, his parents refused to evacuate earlier, arguing the creek — roughly 200 yards from their back porch — flooded in the past but never came close to getting inside their home.

Her in-laws barely got out, said Margo Mattox, who’s married to Red Mattox.

"We had called for help to get them out but they said they weren’t able to send anybody," said Margo Mattox, who’s own family lost everything 25 years ago when Hurricane Andrew demolished Homestead.

Until the home is restored, the elder Mattoxs are staying in the parsonage at Clay Hill Baptist Church, she said.

Already in fragile health, Irma had taken a toll on them.

Mattox said his mom was recovering from hip surgery before the hurricane hit. She’d also suffered a series of small strokes. The most recent, on Sept. 16, likely was brought on by Irma. He said she’s doing better now, and recently started physical therapy.

His father remains unsettled. Some days are better than others for his dad, who was disabled in an industrial accident involving a head injury many years ago, Mattox said.

"I think this whole flood thing has affected him more than any of us. … Daddy keeps asking Mama when they are going to go look for a house," he said of his father.

His father loves fishing. The family had sold 40 acres in Starke years earlier so his parents could buy the home with the backyard dock on Black Creek so he could fish.

Every day except Sunday, which is reserved for church, Glenn Mattox Sr. would sit on the dock for hours in the morning and evening fishing for black crappie, panfish or striped bass. It didn’t matter if he caught anything or not. The joy was in the fishing.

Margo Mattox said it’s not the same now.

"He’ll come down for maybe 30 minutes, and he’ll just go and sit. It breaks my heart. I don’t know if he’ll ever be the same," she said.

Mattox said his dad’s favorite fishing rod was lost in the storm. His mom’s piano — a treasured gift from his dad 50 years ago — was ruined along with the couple’s refrigerator, stove and almost all of their furniture, he said.

But the family salvaged some of their mother’s beloved collection of Noah’s Ark figurines, a few Christmas ornaments and a good number of family photographs. An outpouring of support also came from strangers: a Jacksonville church offered to give them a piano, and a friend’s children saved their allowance and to buy an American Girl doll for their aunt’s collection.

The three Mattox brothers are repairing the damage to their parents’ home — estimated at about $29,000 — with help from others in the extended family. A friend from church was installing new sheetrock this week, Red Mattox said.

Although the elder Mattoxs won’t be back in their home for Christmas, the family will celebrate together – gathering at his brother’s home home between Starke and Lake Butler, Red Mattox said.

The family has lost much, but have each other, their religious faith and their church family to lean on.

"My wife says nothing much seems to affect me. I don’t think that. Just usually not much I can do about it. What I do is just pray and leave it in God’s hands," Red Mattox said.

REBUILDING, GIVING BACK

Dennis and Ana De St Jeor lost everything but their lives, their hope and their determination to persevere when Hurricane Irma hit 10 days before the birth of son, Baze.

"We’re finally beginning to move on and life is back on track," Ana De St Jeor said. Repairs began on the home in late November. And the couple recently leased space for their restaurant, to be called the "Spice Club," she said.

Because of her late-stage pregnancy, the couple evacuated before Irma. They returned home to devastation.

The hurricane destroyed their two-story farm-style Black Creek home of five years – filling it with five feet of foul smelling flood water polluted with septic tank waste. Those waters ruined or swept away everything they’d gathered for the baby including crib, playpen, car seat, toys and other necessities.

An artist as well as a baker, Ana De St Jeor lost all her watercolor and acrylic paintings. The hurricane also derailed the couple’s dreams of opening their own restaurant. Flood waters – about 100 yards from their back porch – also submerged almost all the restaurant and kitchen equipment they’d collected and stored in the garage and workshop, Dennis De St Jeor said.

"The thing that changed us the most was seeing how helpful and compassionate people in our community are. We have now met our neighbors and gained a few friends," Ana De St Jeor said.

The De St Jeors said they will celebrate Christmas in the Fleming Island apartment they rented. They hope to return to their home on Black Creek Drive sometime around March.

Repairs to their home began early this month.

Uwe De St Jeor, a cabinet maker with his own business, came from Indianapolis to help renovate and restore the home for his brother and sister-in-law. The couple’s neighbor built the house, and is handling the repairs, Ana De St Jeor said.

Learning of the couple’s loss from the hurricane via social media, people reached out to the De St. Jeors. Among the first of many to come to the rescue were the women of the Clay Hill Clothes Closet at Clay Hill Church of God of Prophecy. They threw her a baby shower to replace all the lost items.

"Everyone in the community has been amazing, and kept offering help. We received so many things for the baby and got help with cleaning out the house," Ana De St Jeor said. So far, she said they haven’t been able to give back to the community except to donate some money to people in need through GoFundMe accounts.

They plan to do more.

"Once we open the [restaurant] doors, for example we’ll have an Irma special every year as a way to thank the community and use profits to throw a community party," Ana De St Jeor said.

The hurricane brought a new perspective, as well as greater appreciation for family, friends and neighbors.

"We gained an understanding of how it feels, and we’re more compassionate now with people who’ve gone through similar things, like the fires in California. I think you can only understand the upheaval to one’s life once you experience it yourself," Ana De St. Jeor said.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Justin and Karen Hawkins were only in their dream house on Begonia Drive — perched on a bluff roughly 35 feet above the South Prong – four months when Irma hit. The spacious three-bedroom house with kayak shed, boat house and dock make it the perfect home for the couple expecting their first child in May.

"We’re doing OK. It still hurts to think about how everything used to be. But when we think about raising a child on the water and how much fun we’ll all have together, it makes a little thing like Irma seem far less important," Hawkins said.

The couple rode out the storm inside the home along with their two dogs, and Hawkins’ parents who believed it was safer than their own Fleming Island home.

The hurricane slammed flood waters against the home. Groundwater was forced up into the partial basement soaking carpet and walls. The wind blew off the home’s chimney siding, letting in a torrent of water.

The storm destroyed their boat house, dock, kayak shed and wooden boardwalk. It also ripped away three kayaks including paddles that the couple — who are avid kayakers — linked with cable.

"Unfortunately, we’re still battling with the insurance company. It’s been three months since Irma and only now are they sending out an engineer to assess the shifting of the house, porch and deck," he said.

That means major repairs are on hold, Hawkins said.

"We’ve patched and mitigated what we could on the house, but everything else is just too expensive to pay for out of pocket, and dealing with the insurance company has been a nightmare. … Irma was a walk in the park compared to them," Hawkins said.

Nonetheless, Hawkins said, they’re fortunate it wasn’t worse. They’re also thankful they can still live in the home despite the damage. Their focus is on the future, he said.

"Honestly, we’ve been thinking more about the baby and making the house our own than anything else. I guess you could say we finally see the bigger picture," Hawkins said.

Neighbors who they’d never met before, or barely knew, pitched in to cut up downed trees, haul off storm debris and offer other help. In turn, Hawkins and his wife, a fifth-grade teacher, as well as other family members have helped neighbors.

Despite the storm, Hawkins said they made the right decision to live on Black Creek, and picked the right house.

"We looked at several houses on the creek before we fell in love with this one, and from what I can tell all of them experienced major flood damage. I think one sold just a few weeks before the storm. We were very lucky," Hawkins said.

It’s unknown how many Black Creek and other Clay residents remain out of their homes because of Irma.

"There are a lot of folks who are staying in travel trailers or with family members," Ward said.

He said a half-dozen Clay families remain in FEMA’s Temporary Assistance program, which expires Jan. 6. The county is working with local nonprofits — Mercy Network and Clay Safety Net — along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing officials in an effort to find those families places to stay, Ward said.

Teresa Stepzinski: (904) 359-4075

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